Kettletown
State Park in Southbury,
CT is great spot where you can
play all day - you take an easy
hike and then relax with a picnic
or swim, or head out for a major
workout and then finish the day
off with a dip in some cool water.
Miles of trails are intertwined
throughout the park and they pass
through varying terrains. The
picnic area, campground, Lake Zoar
beach, cascading stream, and other
amenities make it an easy choice
to visit. It's mostly known to
locals as a town beach or picnic
area and a lot of folks don't
realize an extensive trail system
meanders throughout the state
park's forest - I in fact had no
idea until I hiked the entire
trail system one hot August day.

I had been to Kettletown before
with family to walk around and
picnic in the main area, and years
ago a girl friend and I used to
stop by and hang out by the stream
once in a while instead of going
to a summer class at Southern CT
U. But I just never made my way
down past the ranger's station
because Kettletown is located in a
fairly built up neighborhood
region and I didn't think the park
extended that far - or if it did,
wouldn't have much to offer other
than hiking through someone else's
backyard. I was wrong. One of the
best trails in the Southbury
region was sittin' there all
along. The day I hiked into it, I
a nearly step on a huge black
snake, watched a large box turtle
defy gravity by basically rock
climbing up a mountain away from
Lake Zoar, and sat back and took
in one of best Huck Finn river
views in this part of the state
while a red tailed hawk circled
above calling out to his mate. The
place threw me back 25 years
before massive Fairfield/New Haven
County suburban sprawl invaded and
replaced cool snakes, turtles,
birds, owls, newts, frogs, toads,
red squirrels, orioles,
hummingbirds, hawks, and Huck Finn
spots with...what else...suburbia!
These things were common when I
was a little boy and now they are
rare "wow" treats. I was thrown
back to my youth in a place I
avoided because it didn't seem
have any reminders of my youth
(that region of Southbury, with
the Housatonic flowing through the
rolling hills, seemed to have
given itself away to endless new
homes, stores, and Interstate 84
congestion). Fortunately, there
were/are some very smart people
with the energy and ability to
preserve key places...Kettletown
State Park is one of those places.
It may not be Yellowstone or the
Green Mountains, but it's a nice
little spot that can do you some
good. And as the ranger at
Kettletown told me as he suggested
hiking the Crest Trail, "there's a
spot where time stands still". He
was right.

There are several options as far
as hiking. If you're looking for
an easy hike with some nice views
you can head over to the picnic
table area and hop on the blue
trail called the William Miller
Trail. If you're new to hiking,
have little kids, or just want to
stretch the legs during a nice
drive, this is a great option
since you can picnic/cookout
before or after seeing the nice
overviews of the Housatonic River
(also known as Lake Zoar in
Southbury). Note:
watch your step, especially if
you have children, as you
approach the overviews. The tall
trees snug up against the rock
outcropping makes it seem like
there isn't a big drop-off into
the forest below. But there is
so don't let the kids, or you,
get to close to the edge.This
pop up window has a panoramic
collage of photos that gives an
idea of the type of view.
The hike up to the views is short
but with plenty of beautiful tall
trees and birds of all sorts to
capture your imagination.

If you need a
workout and a long hike you should
drive down towards the rangers
station and hop on the blue and
white blazed path called Crest
Trail - this is the trail where I
came across the
black snake and box
turtle. Crest Trail takes
you into the quiet hardwood forest
and eventually to some nice
overviews where Lake Zoar sits
between hills covered with
trees...not a single sign of
civilization other than the
occasional passing motorboat...a
really neat spot where the
ranger rightfully stated that
time stands still. A longer
trail option is to park your car
in the main area when you first
come in. Then walk down the road
towards ranger station. On your
right you'll notice a trail that
goes along the stream. Take this
nice hike to get your legs warmed
up for the big hike. But just note
that combining this option with
the Crest Trail would be a major
workout so if you're not it decent
shape don't attempt the whole
thing.

Whatever you decide to do, please
go to official
Kettletown website and click
on "Hiking map" and print it out.
Although the trails are clearly
marked and well maintained there
are some spots that could be
confusing. Having the map will
allow you to keep on the trail you
planned to be on instead of
wandering off in another
direction. They also have maps at
the ranger's station. The map will
also help you decide which trail
option is best for you. Their
phone number as of September 2007:
(203) 264-5678

Directions:
This is how I would go but
underneath these directions are
the directions from Kettletown's
official website. You can decide
wish is best for you.

Take exit 14 off Interstate 84 in
Southbury. If you're coming from
Danbury direction, at the end of
the ramp look over to the right
and across the road...there's a
road going up a hill...it's called
Gorges Hill Road...go across the
road and up this hill...do not
take an immediate right at the
ramp...that would be the wrong
road. Then go 2.7 miles on Gorges
Hill Road and on your right side
will be Kettletown. For those
looking for an easy hike go
straight as you drive into
Kettletown and on up to the picnic
table area. The end of this road
has a tiny loop-around and just
before it starts to loop to the
left, look to the right and you'll
see the trailhead for William
Miller Trail. Just park your car
anywhere and hike on in. Follow
the blue hash marks up to the
trailhead sign. Or another easy
hike option is to go down left
towards the ranger's station and
hike along the cascading stream
trail.

The Crest Trail would be for those
wanting a more rugged hike and/or
workout. (Combining this hike
along with the other shorter ones
would provide the hiker and all
day adventure.) For Crest Trail
you need to go down to the
ranger's station and park there.
Maps will shop you how to access
hiking trail.

Kettletown's official
directions: Off
Interstate 84: take Exit 15. Go
south onto CT Route 67. Take a
right at the first traffic light
onto Kettletown Road. Continue for
approximately 3 miles on
Kettletown Road. Take a right onto
Georges Hill Road. Park is located
on the left approximately 0.6
miles. Weekends and summer
holidays there is an entrance fee.
http://dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/parks/kettletown.htm